Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
January 2026
Carrick said Solskjaer contacted him to congratulate him after United chose Carrick over Solskjaer following Amorim’s dismissal. United were reported to have considered bringing Solskjaer back, but opted for Carrick, who then started with a 2-0 win over Manchester City and reiterated his focus on raising standards and uniting players and fans.
Xabi Alonso
January 2026
A report says Liverpool have made a first approach to Alonso as they consider future managerial options, with Slot still in charge but under scrutiny during an inconsistent title defence. The claim is that Liverpool sounded out Alonso’s interest, with the coach currently available after leaving Real Madrid. Despite a short spell in Madrid, his reputation remains strong from his Leverkusen success, and the report suggests Liverpool view him as a near-future option, possibly for 2026-27.
Michael Carrick
January 2026
Reports claim United academy players and parents are pleased Carrick replaced Amorim, after Amorim criticised “entitlement” among youth players and faced public pushback linked to Mainoo’s lack of first-team minutes. Amorim’s comments followed social media complaints by Amass and Obi and a “Free Kobbie Mainoo” t-shirt worn by Mainoo’s half-brother. Carrick’s approach is described as welcoming, and his early impact was highlighted by a 2-0 derby win over City and praise from Lisandro Martinez for harnessing the crowd’s energy.
Thomas Frank
January 2026
Frank was targeted by “sacked in the morning” chants after Spurs drew 2-2 with 19th-placed Burnley, leaving Tottenham five league games without a win and deepening fears ahead of a difficult February run. Van de Ven opened the scoring, Tuanzebe equalised, Foster put Burnley ahead, and Romero rescued a point in stoppage time. Frank defended the overall performance but admitted two defensive moments cost them, as fan frustration escalated after recent poor domestic form.
Virgil van Dijk
January 2026
Van Dijk was blamed for Bournemouth’s opener after misplaying a long ball, as Liverpool’s defensive chaos and a delayed substitution after Gomez collided with Alisson contributed to a 3-2 defeat despite a brief comeback. Scott collected Van Dijk’s mistake and crossed for Evanilson. Gomez went off injured, but Endo’s entry was delayed and Liverpool played short-handed, conceding again. Liverpool rallied through Van Dijk and Szoboszlai, but Bournemouth’s late winner sealed it.
Benfica fans
January 2026
Around 200 Benfica supporters entered the Seixal training base to protest results and demand answers, holding a tense meeting with Mourinho, Otamendi and Sabrosa as pressure mounts on the club’s season. Police attended and allowed entry after assurances of a peaceful protest. The group insisted on full access rather than a small delegation, then gathered on a training pitch for an hour-long discussion before leaving, following exits from cups and a league gap to leaders Porto.
Mykhailo Mudryk
January 2026
Rosenior said he hopes to speak with Mudryk soon as the winger remains under an indefinite provisional ban after an FA anti-doping charge, with the case still unresolved and a potential four-year suspension possible. Mudryk said the positive test was a shock and denied knowingly taking banned substances, citing confidentiality while his team investigates. He cannot train with teammates under the ban and has kept a low profile, while Shakhtar have publicly backed him as innocent.
Elliot Anderson
January 2026
United reportedly think Anderson leans toward a move to City, with both clubs and Chelsea tracking the Forest midfielder, while Forest expect him to stay through January. United are planning a midfield rebuild with a shortlist including Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba. City are also expected to recruit centrally given Rodri’s ongoing fitness concerns after a serious knee injury and limited league starts.
Jason McAteer
January 2026
McAteer said his long-running feud with Keane, which started around the 2002 World Cup fallout and escalated through public jabs and a heated 2002 on-pitch incident, was finally resolved. McAteer described years of back-and-forth commentary and the Sunderland vs United flashpoint that ended with Keane sent off, then said they eventually cleared it up in a cafe, with Carragher involved in bringing them together.
Kai Rooney
January 2026
Kai Rooney, 16, debuted at Old Trafford for United’s Under-18s in an FA Youth Cup win over Derby, coming on to loud “Rooney” chants and producing an eye-catching cameo. The match went to extra time at 0-0, United went ahead via an own goal, added a second through Chido Obi, and held on after Derby pulled one back. Wayne Rooney posted a “then and now” message marking the moment.
